Systems and methods for remotely controlling subsystems including exhaust subsystems of a vehicle

Abstract

A system for remotely controlling a plurality of subsystems of a vehicle comprises a processor and a memory storing instructions. When executed by the processor, the instructions cause the processor to send a signal via a wireless network to activate a control circuit connected to a Controller Area Network (CAN) bus in the vehicle. The instructions cause the processor to send a command via the wireless network to the control circuit to clear a fault code associated with one of a plurality of Electronic Control Units (ECUs) respectively controlling the plurality of subsystems of the vehicle via the CAN bus, to reset a parameter of one of the plurality of ECUs controlling an exhaust subsystem of the vehicle to a default value, or to initiate a forced regeneration of a diesel particulate filter of the exhaust subsystem of the vehicle.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for remotely controlling a plurality of subsystems of a vehicle, comprising:
 a processor; and 
 a memory storing instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to:
 send a signal via a wireless network to activate a control circuit connected to a Controller Area Network (CAN) bus in the vehicle; and 
 send a command via the wireless network to the control circuit to:
 clear a fault code associated with an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) controlling an exhaust subsystem of the vehicle via the CAN bus; 
 reset parameters of the ECU controlling the exhaust subsystem of the vehicle to respective default values; and 
 in response to the fault code recurring after clearing the fault code and resetting the parameters of the ECU controlling the exhaust subsystem and in response to a parked regeneration of a diesel particulate filter of the exhaust subsystem being disabled, initiate a forced regeneration of the diesel particulate filter of the exhaust subsystem of the vehicle. 
 
 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1  wherein the instructions cause the processor to communicate with a mobile device via the wireless network and to send the signal, the command, or both to the control circuit via the mobile device, wherein the mobile device communicates with the control circuit using a short range wireless communication protocol. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2  wherein the wireless network includes a cellular network and wherein the short range wireless communication protocol includes Bluetooth. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1  wherein the instructions cause the processor to send the command to the control circuit to clear the fault code and to reset the parameters in response to an engine of the vehicle being turned off. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1  wherein the instructions cause the processor to send the command to the control circuit to initiate the forced regeneration in response to an engine of the vehicle being turned on and a speed of the vehicle being zero. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1  wherein the instructions cause the processor to send the command to the control circuit to initiate the forced regeneration in response to the parked regeneration of the diesel particulate filter being disabled. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1  wherein the instructions cause the processor to perform a security handshake with the control circuit via the wireless network before sending the command to the control circuit. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1  wherein the command causes the control circuit to perform an authentication procedure with the ECU and secure read/write access to the ECU. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1  wherein the command causes the control circuit to reset data learned by the ECU. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 1  wherein the parameters include a soot level of the diesel particulate filter, an ash level of the diesel particulate filter, a zone level of the diesel particulate filter, regeneration timers of the diesel particulate filter, data learned after a prior regeneration of the diesel particulate filter, NOx sensor data, or an efficiency of a selective catalytic reduction component of the exhaust subsystem. 
     
     
       11. A system for controlling a plurality of subsystems of a vehicle, comprising:
 a control circuit to communicate with a plurality of Electronic Control Units (ECUs) of the vehicle respectively controlling the plurality of subsystems of the vehicle via a Controller Area Network (CAN) bus of the vehicle; and 
 a communication circuit to receive a command from a remote device via a wireless network to activate the control circuit to:
 clear a fault code associated with one of the plurality of ECUs controlling an exhaust subsystem of the vehicle; 
 reset parameters of the one of the plurality of ECUs controlling the exhaust subsystem of the vehicle to respective default values; and 
 in response to the fault code recurring after clearing the fault code and resetting the parameters of the one of the plurality of ECUs controlling the exhaust subsystem and in response to a parked regeneration of a diesel particulate filter of the exhaust subsystem being disabled, initiate a forced regeneration of the diesel particulate filter of the exhaust subsystem of the vehicle. 
 
 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11  wherein the communication circuit is configured to communicate with a mobile device using a short range wireless communication protocol and wherein the mobile device is configured to receive the command from the remote device via the wireless network. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12  wherein the wireless network includes a cellular network and wherein the short range wireless communication protocol includes Bluetooth. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 11  wherein the control circuit is configured to clear the fault code and reset the parameters in response to an engine of the vehicle being turned off. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 11  wherein the control circuit is configured to initiate the forced regeneration in response to an engine of the vehicle being turned on and a speed of the vehicle being zero. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 11  wherein the control circuit is configured to initiate the forced regeneration in response to the parked regeneration of the diesel particulate filter being disabled. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 11  wherein the communication circuit is configured to receive a signal to activate the control circuit from the remote device via the wireless network before receiving the command from the remote device via the wireless network. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 11  wherein the control circuit is configured to perform a security handshake with the remote device via the wireless network before receiving the command from the remote device via the wireless network. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 11  wherein in response to receiving the command, the control circuit is configured to perform an authentication procedure with the ECU and secure read/write access to the ECU. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 11  wherein in response to receiving the command, the control circuit is configured to reset data learned by the ECU.